Karen Wagner and Erica Baird have discovered a new purpose in redefining retirement for modern women. (Photo by Peter van Agtmael)Peter van Agtmael

The two cofounders are retired corporate lawyers who were at the forefront of the women’s movement that broke the mold in the workforce. They have made their own money, control their own finances and are likely to live for decades after retirement. “We were part of the first wave of Boomer career women. We supported each other and overcame many unique challenges in order to become full and equal participants in the workforce,” they say.

Lustre’s cofounders came of age during the 1960s – a time of “big ideas and big change” – from the women’s movement to racial equality to the nuclear arms race and the Vietnam War. They came to believe that women could and should make a difference. Baird and Wagner became lawyers because they saw the law as an effective way to make a living and gain entry into rooms where important decisions were being made.

Baird and Wagner are on a mission to show how retired women can be sexy, cool, and relevant. (Photo by Peter van Agtmael)Peter van Agtmael

Once retired, Baird and Wagner quickly saw that there were new challenges to overcome. When they first retired, they were surprised by the negative images associated with older women. “Retirement connotes old and done. Retired women face a double whammy—we are perceived as not only unglamorous but also in retreat. We didn’t see ourselves, or anyone we know, in those representations. Just as we had actively fought against stereotypes during our careers, we decided that we needed to take on this fight, too. We created Lustre as a platform for change.”

Although at first they were taken aback, and later angered, by the stereotypes of older women and retirees in America today, Wagner and Baird soon realized that they could do something about it. “We didn’t expect to see so many negative images in the media and to be so pigeonholed. Ultimately, this led us to stumble into what has become our new purpose. We aim to inspire people every day with stories of modern retired women who are forging new paths to live retirement differently. “

The other challenge female retirees face is the stereotype that older women are frumpy, whereas older men are considered to be alluring ‘silver foxes.’ “We want to show that older women are just as cool, engaged and sexy as we ever were,” say Wagner and Baird.

Wagner and Baird enjoy exploring their home city of Manhattan. (Photo by Peter van Agtmael)Peter van Agtmael

To other women – of any and all ages – looking to align their career with their life purpose, Baird and Wagner offer this advice: “Ask yourself, what do you care about? What makes you happy? Keep your options open. Don’t be afraid to zig and zag. One thing always leads to another.”

Lustre’s cofounders offer these five tips for how to make the most of your retirement:

Don’t Panic, Take Your Time: You have time to figure out what’s next. It’s fine to relax and see how you want to spend your days. You will likely be retired for decades and changing your mind as you go is fine.

Say Yes to (Almost) Everything: Prior to retirement, your priorities have been your family and your job. You have often had to say “no” to unscripted opportunities to do new things. Now is the time to switch gears and say “yes,” which will lead to meeting new people, developing new passions and experiencing new adventures.

Take Control: It’s your time. Figure out what you want to do, and don’t succumb to the demands of family and friends (i.e., do chores for them in your free time). Your time is not free.

Find Your Purpose: Ask yourself, what do you care about? What makes you happy? From there, figure out how and when you are going to do it.

Keep in Touch with Young Folks: One of the joys of working, at least for us, was mentoring and working with the next generation. There are a lot of ways to continue to connect. This group will keep you young and current, and you can help show them the shortcuts and secrets to success.

MeiMei Fox is a New York Times bestselling author specializing in health, wellness and positive psychology. As a writer and life coach, she helps people align careers with their life purpose.

I am a New York Times bestselling author, coauthor and ghostwriter of over a dozen non-fiction books and hundreds of articles for publications including Huffington Post, Self, Stanford magazine, and MindBodyGreen. I specialize in health and wellness, spirituality and psycho...